Merrydale Day Nursery

Broad Oak House, Coppid Beech Hill, London Road, Wokingham RG40 1PD
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10 51 Reviews
  • Merrydale Day Nursery, Wokingham
Merrydale Day Nursery is a fun and lively children’s day nursery, providing day care for ages 3 months to 5 years old.

It is a homely setting at the end of a sheltered road, handy for Bracknell, Reading, Wokingham and Binfield. Home cooked meals, nappies and extracurricular activities such as Boogie Mites, outdoor learning and cook school all included.

Care Provided by Merrydale Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Jade Noakes (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 12
  • Total Places for Children
  • 56
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Merrydale Day Nursery

  • We offer spaces as a standard day (8 am to 5.30 pm) or extended day (7.30 am to 6 pm). Funded only spaces are limited.
    Please contact the nursery direct for a copy of our fees sheet.


  • Parking
  • Parking onsite


Total of 51, showing 21-40
10

Merrydale Day Nursery has a Review Score of 10 (9.967) out of 10, based on 11 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Merrydale Day Nursery has 51 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Like many other mums, I was extremely anxious about going back to work and putting my child into nursery. This was exacerbated by having a lockdown baby when he was so used to it being just us. I was really concerned he would get easily overwhelmed or uncomfortable with new people in a new surrounding.
I was therefore extremely pleased to see that in just a couple of weeks my son (who started at 12 months) went from crying at the door to practically throwing himself at the staff and beaming as soon as he saw them. That to me is the biggest reassurance a parent can get knowing that the nursery is a good one. I looked around at other nurseries in the area, including some very highly rated ones. Whilst they were all lovely, to me the more intimate nature of Merrydale stood out. The staff are amazing, engaging, friendly and truly care for the children in their care. The nursery also provide updates throughout the day via the app and photographs which is very reassuring and lovely to see.

Reply from Jade Noakes, Deputy Manager at Merrydale Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your kind words. We are so glad he has settled so well and feels so comfortable to throw himself at the staff in the mornings! He is a delight to look after and he has settled in so well now. I will pass on all your kinds words to the team and thank you again.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has attended Merrydale for the past 3yrs and I could not have wished to have found a better nursery for him. The facilities are wonderful and the garden and forest school area are hugely popular and it's great they can spend so much time out there. Staff numbers permitting they also take the
children to local parks or to feed some local horses which is a lovely added bonus. The staff have remained largely consistent throughout his time there and they are so engaged with the children in their care that they know what works to engage different children and also to manage any challenging behaviour. They have really helped nurture and develop my son's learning and also embraced his cheeky character. Now that he is starting school, it's not just him who will miss nursery, it's me too.

Reply from Katie Beckingham, Manager at Merrydale Day Nursery

Thank you for your kind words, it has been a pleasure to look after your little one and it won't be long until you are back with your newest addition.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The standard of care at this nursery is excellent.
We have tried a couple of local nurseries, all with great facilities and lovely staff, however, I felt the staff at Merrydale stood above the others.
I feel like my daughter's individual needs are highly considered by the staff at Merrydale.
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online updates on the child's care diary and activities are provided which is very reassuring.
The longer opening times also gives us more flexibility and prevent the rush at drop off and pick up, which makes for a more pleasant and safe experience.
I have rated value for money a bit lower because this nursery is more expensive than other local providers.
However, for us as a family, the standard of care and convenience of location has become more important than price. My daughter is thriving at Merrydale and so I would highly recommend it.

Reply from Katie Beckingham, Manager at Merrydale Day Nursery

Thank you for your kind review, your daughter has settled in so well and her confidence is growing more each day. It's amazing watching her little personality develop.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at Merrydale Day Nursery in August 2020 and despite all the Coronavirus ongoings the staff have made his settling period a happy and comfortable experience. He is now there 2 months and loves it and we feel he is quite settled and seems to enjoy all the interaction and learning.
I also
have a daughter in the Pre-School at Merrydale and she is very happy and settled there too.
Having both my children at Merrydale has given them confidence and social skills that are important.

Reply from Katie Beckingham, Manager at Merrydale Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your kind words. We are so pleased with how well he has settled and it has been a pleasure watching your daughter grow into a confident and social little girl.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending Merrydale for the past four years having previously attended another day nursery and our experience has been nothing but positive. We have seen him grow into a happy confident little boy while he has been there and that is a credit to the staff. The manager/SENCO has been incredibly
supportive throughout my sons SEN diagnosis and has fought for the provision that he has required at every stage. His one to one has also been amazing helping him to grow and develop and form strong bonds with his peers. My son had to attend another Complete Childcare nursery during Lockdown and they were equally supportive with the organisation have a true grasp of what it means to support children with Special Needs. I cannot recommend Merrydale more strongly, it is a wonderful place for your children to attend.

Reply from Katie Beckingham, Manager at Merrydale Day Nursery

It has been a pleasure to look after your son, we will all miss him very much. I'm sure he will love his school just as much and we wish you all good luck in the future.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at Merrydale for nearly 2 years and absolutely loves it. The staff are wonderful and genuinely care for each child. The app is brilliant for keeping up to date throughout the day and we regularly get photos so we can talk to our daughter about her day in the evening. Her speech
and confidence have come on so much since starting Merrydale and she looks forward to the days she's at Merrydale where she can see her friends. One member of staff, in particular, and the team are very approachable and will do whatever they can to help. The 7.30 am start time and 6 pm finish time make it really easy for working parents to manage childcare arrangements. We have recommended Merrydale to several friends who now send their children to the same nursery.

Reply from Gemma Lee, Manager at Merrydale Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your kind words. It's been amazing watching her grow.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I’m so pleased with our choice to place our daughter at Merrydale. I was personally very nervous about putting my little girl into nursery at 9 months old, but my immediate concerns disappeared as soon as we dropped her off for her first day. She absolutely loved it, she’s been in nursery for 3 months
now and she’s ever so happy. The staff are fantastic, they have followed our home routines as closely as possible and my daughter seems so content here. She has really bonded with her key workers and I’m so pleased with her progress. We get daily updates on her and I’m always talking to the staff when I collect her at the end of the day. All of the children seem very happy and I would definitely recommend Merrydale to others.
Thank you for making my daughters experience such a happy one!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son will be leaving Merrydale to start at a preschool closer to our home at the end of this term and we are all very sad that he will be leaving. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff at Merrydale for the wonderful experience our son has been given in his two years there.
We could not have asked for a better or more caring nursery for him to attend. In particular, we would like to thank the amazing staff who have each had a big part to play in our son’s development and who have made a huge impression on him. We are sure that our son will continue to make lots of progress as he begins preschool in September, but we know that it is the wonderful experience he has had at Merrydale which will have laid the firm foundations for his future. Thank you to everyone at Merrydale for looking after our son so well, we could not have asked for a better nursery for him to have attended.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending the nursery since August last year from only 9 months old. From the beginning his care has been excellent. They were so reassuring when I was worried about leaving him. He soon settled in and loves his days at nursery. He is stimulated and his development has come on leaps
and bounds! I like that they take the kids out for fresh air every day. They’ve also been excellent when he has been poorly and I completely trust that he is being looked after when he is there.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My 3-year-old has now been at Merrydale for just over 2 years and I am more than happy with the fantastic service they provide.
There is always a warm welcome/goodbye at the start/end of day and all the staff have a good knowledge of my son - including their amazing chef (who provides a varied and
healthy diet). They are a very caring bunch! My son is very happy at the nursery and can name all the staff and other children. He is stimulated in many ways and I know he spends lots of time outside. The nursery manager runs a tight ship and is very on the ball. We get regular updates on what's coming up and there are regular reminder notices in the reception area. Any queries by email are quickly responded to. I love the app which I can check for regular updates on how my son is getting on in the day and look forward to the Observation updates. It will be a very sad day for our family when our son starts school and we have to say goodbye. Thank you Merrydale for everything - you rock!

Reply from Gemma Lee at Merrydale Day Nursery

Thank you very much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate your feedback. We too will be sad when your last day at Merrydale comes - but always remember it's never goodbye forever, you can always come and visit.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children have attended Merrydale since they were 9 months old - they've both enjoyed their time with the team who do a fantastic job! Activities are varied, meals are well planned and nutritious but most importantly, the children are happy to be there and as a parent, there's nothing more reassuring
than that. Massive thanks to the entire team for providing such a wonderfully nurturing environment!

Reply from Gemma Lee at Merrydale Day Nursery

Thank you very much for your review, we have really enjoyed looking after both of the children and really appreciate hearing your views.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I really want to say a massive thank you to the manager and the team for a doing a great job with looking after our boy.
The nursery not only have fantastic staff but also plan good activities that our boy enjoys and he looks forward to going in every day and learning new things.
Not only do they
really look after him but also are very helpful should we require them to do anything for us.
You can tell they really take pride in what they are doing at this nursery.
Keep up the good work all.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My 2 year old has been at Merrydale since Jan 2017 and I've only just got round to writing a review! But I am over the moon at how well my son is developing under their care. The staff have been excellent throughout and are always on hand to help with any queries if needed. You can tell they really
care about the children which is ultimately the overriding factor for me above all else.


My son is extremely happy there and it's nice to drop him off knowing he'll have a fun day and be well looked after. They have a wide range of activities for the children and logging onto to ParentZone to see what they're up to is nice. If I had one minor criticism, it would be that they probably need a little bit more space but I know they are about to start an extension so I'm sure that will help.


All in all, I can't fault them - the staff there do a fantastic job.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter is just about to leave Merrydale to go to a pre-school linked to our intended Primary school. We wanted to share our our gratitude towards the staff at Merrydale for an excellent 2.5 years. We have been amazed by how much she has grown and developed during this time and we love the personality
she is developing and are very grateful for how the staff have support, encouraged and nurtured this. She has developed some wonderful relationships with children and staff and this is testament to the friendly and warm environment created at Merrydale.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Merrydale is a vibrant and warm community and we have been impressed by the caring nature of the staff. Since she started at Merrydale at ten months old, our daughter has come to consider Merrydale as an extension to her home. She is now eighteen months old and I have no doubt that her development in
terms of her eating, confidence, communicating and walking has been influenced by her wonderful nursery.


The staff are highly professional and communication is always easy. Parents are sent updates and photographs throughout the day via the ParentZone App. We have also been most impressed by the nutritious food.


On the creative side, our little one has produced works of art, decorated cupcakes, adorned many fancy dress costumes, and she has grown in confidence when interacting with other children. During the summer months, the Merrydale garden is especially fabulous with plenty of space, a large sandpit, toys and excellent facilities. We cannot recommend Merrydale highly enough.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter started at Merrydale in February at the age of 1 and clearly enjoys her time there.


The food is all freshly prepared on site, the staff are all very friendly and welcome her in every day with a cheery smile. Merrydale are great at organising events for the children and parents (including

the annual family fun day!), communicating to parents via emails and newsletters and should you have any questions and email the nursery, the manager is very quick to respond.


In the recent hot weather, they have been great at keeping the kids cool with indoor water play, which our daughter loves and is reassuring given the recent temperature and humidity.


All of the staff are very friendly and clearly enjoy their work - I would recommend Merrydale to anyone looking at nurseries in this area.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending for almost a year now. He's come on so much, shy at first but now happy to go to nursery and see his friends and the staff. He's built good relationships with his carers and they all seem to genuinely care. The food always sounds amazing! Over all we're extremely please with
Merrydale.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little girl has been coming to Merrydale for 18 months and I cannot fault the nursery. The change I've seen in her development is completely down to these 3 days a week she has been here. Interaction with the other children is amazing. All of the nursery teachers are smiley and lovely, my little
girl always talks about the nursery and how much she loves it. Every penny spent on this part of her upbringing is completely worth it. Thank you Merrydale!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We joined the nursery at the start of 2017 after reviewing several in the area and what won us over (and still does) is the understanding the staff have for the needs of the children and the parents.
We were very impressed with the layout of rooms to have various options for play and educational learning
so the kids aren't bored or see the same walls each day.
The staff are very knowledgeable about the individual needs of the children which are very reassuring as a new mum. They offer advice when asked and we (mum, dad and son) have all benefitted from the staff's skills.
My son absolutely loves his time at Merrydale, making me feel confident that returning to work was the right thing for everyone.
One area that we couldn't live without is the Parentzone app. This allows us to review what's going on with our son when we are at work and the pictures the team load up really make us smile.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The team at Merrydale are fantastic - my son only attended one day a week so we expected it to take him a while to acclimatise but my sons key worker made nursery such a fun and safe environment, he soon looked forward to his time there. Had no bad experiences, the facilities, food and communications
from Merrydale are all excellent and I have no hesitation in recommending!!

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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.967)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.967) out of 10 for Merrydale Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 11 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 11 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.985 for Merrydale Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (130 Excellents x 5) + (2 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 132 Ratings = 4.985

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.982 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Merrydale Day Nursery is based on 11 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 56 number of registered child places is 11.2. 11 Positive Reviews ÷ 11.2 = 0.982

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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